We have asked candidates running for various offices to answer questions for our Voter Guide. While full responses are available here, we are offering you an excerpt in “Candidate Comparisons” ahead of the May 1, 2021 general election.
Each response below came directly from the candidate’s questionnaire and is unedited.
FROM LEFT: Eddy Sauer (Shemen Dental), Tom Scherlen (Campaign)
Amarillo City Council, Place 2
Jason Foglesong
Age: 36 | Occupation: Teacher
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position in 2020?
I have no attachments to any business entity, no real estate or investment interests, and am beholden only to taxpayers. I have an established career in education, and no connections or avenues to profit off of this office. As the founding fathers intended, I will serve a term or two, and leave office to make room for another citizen to stand up and represent the people.
Joe West
Age: 33 | Occupation: Administrative Assistant at Amarillo College
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position in 2020?
I'd hardly say I'm the best candidate for the Council, but I'd do everything I could to be a good advocate and facilitator between the citizenry and the bureaucracy of local government. I'm just an average citizen whose only goal is to help out my neighbors.
Freda Powell (Incumbent)
Age: 61 | Occupation: Office Manager at Warford Mortuary
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position in 2020?
My dad was in the military, and I lived in several places around the world before we settled in Amarillo, then I graduated from Amarillo High School in 1977, and have lived here ever since. Public service is a big part of my life, and I have served on more than a dozen organizations – often in leadership positions. I have also worked for several prominent businesses, such as Southwestern Public Service Company (Xcel Energy), Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell Textron), BP American Production Company and LINN Energy. Through my career and public service, I have been blessed with deep relationships throughout the community, giving me a broad perspective. The City of Amarillo is a complex organization, and my experience on the Council for the past two terms has provided me with insights that make me a more effective representative for our residents.